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Features
- Berlin In Your Pocket in iPaper
- Berlin travel basics
- Berlin's districts
- Books about Berlin
- Charlottenburg
- Cold War Berlin
- Embassy architecture
- Events in Berlin
- Fast food
- Festival: Fete de la Musique
- Film Festivals in Berlin
- Mitte in the middle
- Prenzlauer Berg
- Sachsenhausen Memorial
- The Fall of the Berlin Wall
- The German Menu
- Wellness
- Where to find the Berlin In Your Pocket city guide
More features:
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Events in Berlin
Berlin events, 2012 - April-May 2013Find the venue details at the bottom of the list.Classical music6 April, 20:00Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Stephen Hough (piano)Conductor: Osmo Vänskä; Works by Grieg, Hummel, and SibeliusPH9 April, 20:00Staatskapelle BerlinConductor: Daniel Barenboim; Works by Mozart and CarterPH10 April, 20:00Kammerakademie Potsdam, Michael Barenboim U(violin)Works by MozartPH11-13 April, 20:00Berliner PhilharmonikerConductor: Paavo Järvi; Works by Beethoven, Hindemith, and SibeliusPH15 April, 20:00Rudolf Buchbinder (piano)Works by BeethovenPH17 April, 20:00Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Christian Zacharias (piano)Works by Kraus, Mozart, and HaydnPH20 April, 20:00Klassische Konzerte, Berliner PhilharmonikerConductor: Sir Simon Rattle; Works by Lutoslawski, Dutilleux, and BeethovenPH22 April, 20:00David Garrett (violin)Johannes Brahms: Konzert für Geige in D-Dur op.... -
Charlottenburg
This western district of Berlin, both the beautiful whitewashed mansions and the brassy advertising signs that sometimes mar their facades, has had its pride a bit bruised since the fall of the Wall.... -
Sachsenhausen Memorial
While African-American sprinter Jesse Owens was kicking dust in the face of Hitler’s master race at Berlin’s 1936 Summer Olympics, slave labourers were building their own concentration camp roughly 35km north of the cheering international spectators.... -
Embassy architecture
In the embassy district on the south side of Tiergarten, architects have proven to be the best attachés for public relations.... -
Berlin's districts
Berlin is four times the size of Paris, and with 12 administrative districts subdivided into 23 Kiez neighbourhoods, it's a good idea to grasp the geography of the city before wandering around.... -
Film Festivals in Berlin
Apart from the huge Berlinale film festival in February, Berlin has over 40 smaller international film festivals throughout the year, often focused on a country or theme.... -
Berlin travel basics
The travel details that are good to know.Basic dataPopulation of Germany: 81,751,602; Berlin: 3,460,725Longest river in Germany: Rhine, 1319km.... -
Prenzlauer Berg
Broad sidewalk cafes, Berlin’s oldest beer garden and the boutiques between restaurants and bars make the former working class district of Prenzlauer Berg, or Prenzl’berg, a great place to people-watch.... -
Books about Berlin
An overview of fiction and non-fiction books on Berlin that can be considered as essential reading.... -
Mitte in the middle
The historic centre of Berlin, Mitte kept its name even when the city’s division made it East Berlin’s western frontier, ending at the Brandenburg Gate.... -
Festival: Fete de la Musique
In 1982, on 21 June (the longest day of the year), Paris saw the first ever Fete de la Musique festival.... -
The German Menu
Fleisch Meat Auflauf casseroleBraten roastBratwurst sausageBrust breastEintopf stewEisbein knuckle of ... -
Cold War Berlin
If families in Washington and Moscow felt threatened by the Cold War – and by the missiles that could cover the 7,841km between them in the time Carl Lewis could win an Olympic sprint – imagine how Berliners must have felt on the cold front, warily watching the nuclear-loaded giants that occupied them, held back from one another by a primitive concrete wall....
Berlin travel basics
The travel details that are good to know.
Basic data
Population of Germany: 81,751,602; Berlin: 3,460,725
Longest river in Germany: Rhine, 1319km. The Spree is 403km.
Highest point of Germany: Zugspitze, 2962m
Highest point in Berlin: Teufelsberg, 114m
Highest natural point in Berlin: Victoriapark Kreuzberg, 66m
Berlin's territory: 900 square kilometers
Drinks & Alcohol
Germans like their beer, drinking about 107 litres per capita per year (down from 136 litres 15 years ago). Unfortunately Berlin's local brew, the slightly sour Berliner Weiße, is only really palatable 'mit Schuss', with a shot of sweet fruit sirup. Cocktails and long drinks of varying quality and price are available in a multitude of places. Non-alcoholic drinks often sipped in Berlin include Apfelschorle, a refreshing mix of apple juice and sparkling water, and Club-Mate ('kloob mah-tea') ice tea, made with extract of the South American maté plant, caffeine and tannins, and is popular with local hipsters as it comes in a screw top bottle so you can hiply tote it around (or drink to just below the top label and top it up with wodka).
Crime & Safety
Berlin is a relatively calm and safe place. Instances of petty crimes are low compared to other Western European capitals, though you shoulds still always keep an eye on your valuables and never leave bags, wallets and mobile phones unattended. Just like anywhere else, be careful when walking in unlit streets late at night. Race-related hassles seldom occur in Berlin's touristed central areas.
Disabled travelers
Berlin is increasingly geared towards disabled visitors, though many restaurants and bars are srtill difficult to access. Public transport maps indicate which S/U-Bahn stations have elevators, and timetables at tram and bus stops have symbols identyfying services with low floor access. When in confused, ask an young mother with a pram.
Electricity
Electrical current in Germany is 220v AC, 50 Hz via standard European round, two-pin sockets. Converters can be bought at the airport and large electronics shops, and many hotels will have them at the front desk too.
Money
Germany uses the euro (€). Banknotes come in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. Coins, whose design depends on in which country they were minted, come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and €1 and €2. Credit and debit card payment is possible in a wide range of shops, restaurants and nightlife venues, though always have cash on you for small payments just in case. This guide indicates which places do not accept plastic. ATMs can be found everywhere; those that charge for transactions clearly indicate the fee during the process. Exchange offices can be found at the major train stations.
Exchange rates: EUR €1 = GBP £0,86 = USD $1,30 = CAD $1,34 = AUD $1,26 = JPY 128 = CNY 8,1 = RUB 41,3 (per 18 April 2013)
Purchasing power: What your dollars or roubles will get you in Berlin.
Espresso €2,50
Glass of local beer €3
Mineral water (1 liter) €0.50-1
Snickers bar €0.70
Hamburger €3,50
Public transport ticket €2,30
250km by train (Hamburg) €60
Public holidays
1 January New Year
18 April 2014 Good Friday
20 April 2014 Easter
1 May Labour Day
29 May 2014 Ascension
8 June 2014 Pentecost
3 October Unification Day
25-26 December Christmas
Visas and entry formalities
EU citizens can stay in Germany as long as they like, though registration at a Bürgeramt office is officially required for stays more than a few months. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Mexico USA and a few others can enter Germany without a visa for a maximum of 90 days in any six month period. All other nationals need to apply for a German visa in advance. Note that there's no passport control between Germany and the other 14 European 'Schengen' countries, and visas to any of these are valid for travel in Germany too. All visitors need a passport that is valid for at least fourth months from the date of arrival; EU citizens can enter with a valid EU identity card too. Check the MFA website for the latest immigration details: www.auswaertiges-amt.de.
Basic data
Population of Germany: 81,751,602; Berlin: 3,460,725
Longest river in Germany: Rhine, 1319km. The Spree is 403km.
Highest point of Germany: Zugspitze, 2962m
Highest point in Berlin: Teufelsberg, 114m
Highest natural point in Berlin: Victoriapark Kreuzberg, 66m
Berlin's territory: 900 square kilometers
Drinks & Alcohol
Germans like their beer, drinking about 107 litres per capita per year (down from 136 litres 15 years ago). Unfortunately Berlin's local brew, the slightly sour Berliner Weiße, is only really palatable 'mit Schuss', with a shot of sweet fruit sirup. Cocktails and long drinks of varying quality and price are available in a multitude of places. Non-alcoholic drinks often sipped in Berlin include Apfelschorle, a refreshing mix of apple juice and sparkling water, and Club-Mate ('kloob mah-tea') ice tea, made with extract of the South American maté plant, caffeine and tannins, and is popular with local hipsters as it comes in a screw top bottle so you can hiply tote it around (or drink to just below the top label and top it up with wodka).
Crime & Safety
Berlin is a relatively calm and safe place. Instances of petty crimes are low compared to other Western European capitals, though you shoulds still always keep an eye on your valuables and never leave bags, wallets and mobile phones unattended. Just like anywhere else, be careful when walking in unlit streets late at night. Race-related hassles seldom occur in Berlin's touristed central areas.
Disabled travelers
Berlin is increasingly geared towards disabled visitors, though many restaurants and bars are srtill difficult to access. Public transport maps indicate which S/U-Bahn stations have elevators, and timetables at tram and bus stops have symbols identyfying services with low floor access. When in confused, ask an young mother with a pram.
Electricity
Electrical current in Germany is 220v AC, 50 Hz via standard European round, two-pin sockets. Converters can be bought at the airport and large electronics shops, and many hotels will have them at the front desk too.
Money
Germany uses the euro (€). Banknotes come in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. Coins, whose design depends on in which country they were minted, come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and €1 and €2. Credit and debit card payment is possible in a wide range of shops, restaurants and nightlife venues, though always have cash on you for small payments just in case. This guide indicates which places do not accept plastic. ATMs can be found everywhere; those that charge for transactions clearly indicate the fee during the process. Exchange offices can be found at the major train stations.
Exchange rates: EUR €1 = GBP £0,86 = USD $1,30 = CAD $1,34 = AUD $1,26 = JPY 128 = CNY 8,1 = RUB 41,3 (per 18 April 2013)
Purchasing power: What your dollars or roubles will get you in Berlin.
Espresso €2,50
Glass of local beer €3
Mineral water (1 liter) €0.50-1
Snickers bar €0.70
Hamburger €3,50
Public transport ticket €2,30
250km by train (Hamburg) €60
Public holidays
1 January New Year
18 April 2014 Good Friday
20 April 2014 Easter
1 May Labour Day
29 May 2014 Ascension
8 June 2014 Pentecost
3 October Unification Day
25-26 December Christmas
Visas and entry formalities
EU citizens can stay in Germany as long as they like, though registration at a Bürgeramt office is officially required for stays more than a few months. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Mexico USA and a few others can enter Germany without a visa for a maximum of 90 days in any six month period. All other nationals need to apply for a German visa in advance. Note that there's no passport control between Germany and the other 14 European 'Schengen' countries, and visas to any of these are valid for travel in Germany too. All visitors need a passport that is valid for at least fourth months from the date of arrival; EU citizens can enter with a valid EU identity card too. Check the MFA website for the latest immigration details: www.auswaertiges-amt.de.